Should I Do A Weekly Water Change?

[Chipie]

Hi,
I have a 60 gallon fresn water heavily planted tank. IT's been cycled a few months ago. As for the fish, the tank is at it's maximun carrying capacity. Never any ammonia or nitrites.
Lately my Nitrates never go over 10. Today i tested a week after my last water change and it was at 7.
My question is, should i do a weelky water change even if the nitrates are this low. I don't want o have i at 0 because i know my plants need some.
What do you think?

 

[vinylman]

A regular water change is a very good habit to keep up. I do my 40-odd gallon every ten days (mainly because it fits my work rota); doesn't really need it according to water tests, but I just prefer to do it - you only have to look at your fish after a water change. It's definitely worth it.

 

[timmystood]

Not much better for fish than fresh water! All my tanks get 40-50% weekly regardless of their capacity. Definatley keep doing them!

 

[for_my_fish]

agreed, fresh water does more than reduce nitrates your plants will appreciate some fresh water as much as your fish

 

[Underwurlde]

Not necessarily true....

If your stats remain low then there is perhaps good reason for this: Your plants are gobbling up the waste the fish produce. In such balanced tanks, NO water changes are IMO perfectly acceptable - OK water change perhaps onec every 6 months or so. If adding CO2 in the form of dosing, perhaps water change once a month.

This is something I am aiming for - I want to enjoy my tank, not have to be doing constant (and yes, perhaps unnecessary) water changes all the time. Fresh water is not the best thing for plants - they will wither and die if supported by an inadequate or old substrate.

Have a read, very enlightening:
http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non-co2-methods.html

Andy

I just know I'm gunna get flamed for this...

 

[Mako Man111]

Not necessarily true....

If your stats remain low then there is perhaps good reason for this: Your plants are gobbling up the waste the fish produce. In such balanced tanks, NO water changes are IMO perfectly acceptable - OK water change perhaps onec every 6 months or so. If adding CO2 in the form of dosing, perhaps water change once a month.

This is something I am aiming for - I want to enjoy my tank, not have to be doing constant (and yes, perhaps unnecessary) water changes all the time. Fresh water is not the best thing for plants - they will wither and die if supported by an inadequate or old substrate.

Have a read, very enlightening:
http/www.barrreport.com/articles/433-non-co2-methods.html

Andy

I just know I'm gunna get flamed for this...

I agree, in a low tech tank with no co2, then water changes are actually harmful and will upset the tanks nutrient and co2 balance and lead to BBA. If you inject co2 though, and dose ferts almost daily, weekly water changes are good to prevent any nutrient from building up.

 

[Rillan]

I dont really do water changes. It just stresses the fish out and messes with the biological set-up of the tank. My girlfriends dad has kept fish for 20 years and he hardly ever has deaths. The best I do is use a gravel cleaner hucked up to a air pump.

 

[thegnu]

you can leave the water changes if you have very low nitrates and just top up the loss to evaporation, but it can lead to complacency and if you have unforseen problems you could have fish deaths before you know you have a problem

 

[Underwurlde]

^ True.

Constant vigilance people. CONSTANT!

 

[dirtydog]

interesting point - my fiancee has a tank she carried on from her bro that doesnt get frequent water changes and whenever I test the water its pretty good.

 

[Chipie]

Well yes if you hve enough thriving plants, they take out much of the Nitrates out of the water. But anyway, i've been doing weekly water changes and everything is going well so i'll continue for now. Maybe a smaller percentage this time.
My brother has a 160 gallon tank which is ell planted also and he has to add Nitrates to his water for the plants. He's well stocked with fish and his nitrates are at 0 if he doesn't add any.
Thanks for the answers.